Castello Sforzesco

Castello Sforzesco isn’t only a symbol of Milan, it also houses work by some of Italy’s greatest artists. Now home to 16 museums with an endless list of treasures locked inside (including Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini), the 19th century saw the castle rescued from disrepair as the architect Luca Beltrami undertook a huge restoration. It’s him you have to thank for an essential part of any visit to Castello Sforzesco – the Sala delle Asse (the room of wooden boards). This is where Da Vinci’s recovered work was found, and as you stare at the nature he painted, it looks as though the painted tree trunks, knots, leaves and fruits are emerging from the walls themselves.